The Art of Ceramic

THE DENOMINATION "MASTER OF MATERIALS" DID NOT HAPPEN BY CHANCE. IT IS THE RESULT OF UNRELENTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, BACKED BY A COURAGEOUS DESIRE TO EXPERIMENT AND IMAGINE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE.

DECEMBER 16, 2021:  The denomination "Master of Materials" did not happen by chance. It is the result of unrelenting research and development, backed by a courageous desire to experiment and imagine all things possible. Rado has been riding that exciting wave of innovation since its foundation in 1917. Its keen eye for timeless materials and unique ways of making use of their finest properties, have made the brand name famous, in the watchmaking profession and beyond, all around the world. The motto of the early days “if we can imagine it, we can make it” is still true today.

For some, science is everything. The endless search for newness, the timeless principles and explorative calculations carve the logical, scientific road to the promising land of discovery. For others, it's more about feeling, about putting one's hand forward, touching or sensing — a new surface, a colour, or some indescribably special texture almost beyond words.

Having a high-tech ceramic Rado in the palm of your hand somehow unites those different worlds. The scientist suddenly realizes the extraordinary thing before her, all the work and the hours of dreaming, testing and shaping that somehow created a fabulous watch out of noble chemical dust. In a moment, the words "Master of Materials" make absolute sense. Not far away, the sensory individual feels the surface, like a sweet song under one's fingertips, or the cool smoothness that no other substance could ever pretend to have, and he smiles, "What does this remind me of exactly?.." "A scent, a flavour, a piece of music?.."
Now, there is something almost mystical, in a world where pleasure can be short-lived, to have the possibility of reaching for an object that is not only durable but almost eternal. Ashes-to-ashes and dust- to-dust notwithstanding, what if human creativity and high-tech wits had truly found a way to build a piece of eternity with just simple ceramic dust? What would such an object feel like?

This is exactly what Rado high-tech ceramic is all about. It's why we say, "Feel it." The ancient origins of its base material render its durability almost inevitable, but it is indeed a great testimonial to the know-how and experience of the "Master of Materials" that it has proven to be true. High-tech ceramic is a beautifully light substance, and one that also resists wear magnificently. Its lightness and great dimensional stability have also made possible some tremendous and unique innovations at Rado, such as the monobloc construction — where primary movement components are actually fastened directly into the case, without the heavy metallic framework.

In itself, all that might be enough qualities to love, in one exceptional material, but surprisingly, it doesn't stop there. Not only is ceramic durable and impervious to almost everything, it has a rare silkiness to the touch that makes for exquisite comfort against the skin. Place it over a human wrist — fine, large, gentle or rugged, and it feels like it was made to be there — since forever. This is of course particularly true for timepieces making use of ceramic elements also in their bracelet, where the sensory experience becomes total and absolutely unforgettable.

"IT FEELS LIKE NOTHING ELSE."
Scientists and poets also agree, when it comes to the wonders of ceramic, that good looks and aesthetics can actually be finely tuned and adjusted through chemistry and expertise. In bold and clever gestures closer to alchemy than hard industry, extraordinary changes in final colour can be triggered by particular conditions, rare minerals or gases set to just the right pressures and temperatures. Such is the creativity and know-how, behind innovative ceramic specialties’ such as CeramosTM and plasma high-tech ceramic. Visual music shaped by lasers and diamonds, the dance of the future, creating the surface of things to come. Feel it.